Palio is the name given in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate some event or tradition of the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

and thus often involve

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

archery Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In m ...

jousting Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two horse riders wielding lances with blunted tips, often as part of a tournament (medieval), tournament. The primary aim was to replicate a clash of heavy cavalry, with each participant trying t ...

crossbow A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fi ...

shooting, and similar medieval sports. Once purely a matter of local rivalries, many have now become events that are staged with an eye to visitors and foreign tourists. Palio di Siena 2 luglio 2010

The

Palio di Siena The Palio di Siena (; known locally simply as ''Il Palio''), from Latin pallium, plural form: Palii, is a horse race that is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the ...

is the only one that has been run without interruption since it started in the 1630s and is definitely the most famous all over the world. Its historical origins are documented since 1239 even though the version seen today was the final evolution of races held from the second half of the 16th century. In 1935, Italian Prime Minister

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in 194 ...

sent out an official declaration that only the one of Siena could bring the designation of Palio. All other horse races held in various parts of Italy are actually just modern reenactments. After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, nevertheless, many other palios arose throughout the various regions of Italy, which could be considered just attempts of imitation of the

. Here is an incomplete list:

Italian Palios

Palios with horse races

Tuscany

Palio Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a ''comune'' against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate som ...

Bientina Bientina () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany. History The toponym Bientina is attested the first time in 793 as Blentina and probably comes from the Etruscan name Plitine. Geography Terr ...

, third Sunday of July. *

of Buti in honor of St. Anthony the Abbot, *

Palio di Castel del Piano Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a ''comune'' against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate som ...

Castel del Piano Castel del Piano is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) of Province of Grosseto in the Tuscany, central Italy. History The area of Castel del Piano is known to have been inhabited in prehistoric times, but the town itself is mentioned for th ...

, racing on September 8 *

Palio delle Contrade Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a ''comune'' against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate som ...

, in Faella *

Palio dei Rioni di Castiglion Fiorentino Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a ''comune'' against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate som ...

the third Sunday of June *

Casole d'Elsa Casole d'Elsa �kaːzoleis a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southwest of Florence and about west of Siena. Main sights The church of ''San Niccolò'', of Romanesque origin, has ...

, Second Sunday of July *

Piancastagnaio Piancastagnaio is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southeast of Florence and about southeast of Siena. It is located on the Monte Amiata slopes. The main attractions include the ...

Palio di Fucecchio Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a ''comune'' against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate som ...

, at the end of May. *Palio di Montelaterone, Palio in Montelaterone *Palio di Monticiano, Palio in Monticiano *

, race is held July 2 and August 16 *Palio della Costa Etrusca in San Vincenzo (Italia), San Vincenzo (suspended) *Palio del Valdarno, a Faella, in Pian di Scò *Palio di Pian di Scò, Palio in Pian di Scò, on August 7 *Palio delle Bandiere e dei Territori in Follonica *Palio di San Luca in Impruneta in October

Lazio

*Corsa a vuoto of Ronciglione, a Carnevale di Ronciglione, Carnival feast. In August *Palio del Tirreno of Maccarese-Fiumicino, not held in 2008. *Palio Madama Margarita di Castel Madama, every second Sunday in July. *Palio dell'Arcata di Acquapendente, Palio dell'Arcata in Acquapendente. *Palio di Bomarzo, Palio in Bomarzo *Palio del Tributo in Priverno *Palio di Tolfa, Palio of Tolfa last Sunday in August. *Palio di Sacrofano, Palio of Sacrofano, Second Sunday in September. *Corsa dei Purosangue, Corsa of Formello, on August 10. *Palio di San Matteo, on September 22 *Corsa al Fantino in Capranica, Lazio, Capranica *Corsa dei Purosangue, Corsa in Campagnano di Roma *Palio di Selci, Palio of Selci, Italy, Selci in September. *Corsa al Fantino, Corsa of Monterosi, on September 15 *Carosello Storico dei Rioni of Cori, Lazio, Cori, in June and July. *Pallio della Carriera in Carpineto Romano (Provincia di Roma, RM). * Palio delle Quattro Porte – Vallecorsa

Lombardy

*Palio della Valle Olona *Palio di Legnano, Last Sunday in May *Palio di S.Pietro at Abbiategrasso *Palio degli Asini di Premosello, Palio degli Asini in Premosello-Chiovenda, Premosello *Palio di Rho, Palio of Rho, Lombardy, Rho, Second Sunday in October. *Palio di Avucat at Caponago, second Sunday in September

Piedmont

*Palio di Asti, every third Sunday In September *Palio dei Borghi e Giostra dell'Oca, Palio dei Borghi of Fossano, at the end of June. *Palio storico dei Borghi di Avigliana, at Avigliana, Third Sunday in June

Sardinia

*Palio di Cagliari, Palio of Cagliari *Palio di Fonni, Palio dei Comuni of Fonni, First Sunday In June *Palio dei Comuni del Goceano, Palio dei Comuni of Goceano *Palio "Sas Carrelas", at Bono *Palio di Sassari, Palio of Sassari

Umbria

*Corteo storico di Monteleone d'Orvieto, Palio (Giostra) del Giglio at Monteleone d'Orvieto, 16 August *Palio di Nera Montoro in September

Veneto

*Palio di Feltre First Sunday in August. Horse race and Archery contest *Palio dei 10 Comuni del Montagnanese, at Montagnana, first Sunday in September *Palio delle contrade di Monselice Second and Third Sunday in September.

Marche

*Palio dell'Assunta (Fermo), Palio dell'Assunta di Fermo, on August 15 *Palio di Montegiorgio, Palio of Montegiorgio *Torneo cavalleresco della Quintana, Palio of Sant'Emidio also called ''Quintana'' in Ascoli Piceno *Palio di Loreto, Corsa del Drappo in Loreto (AN), Loreto, on September 7 *Contesa della Margutta a Corridonia, early September *Palio della miniera di zolfo di Cabernardi, early August *Palio dei Castelli in San Severino Marche, early June.

Emilia-Romagna

*Palio di Ferrara, Last Sunday in May *Palio del Maggio, at Savigno in May. *Palio delle contrade di San Secondo Parmense, Palio delle contrade in San Secondo Parmense *Palio di Parma, *Palio del Niballo, at Faenza *Palio di Giovecca, at Giovecca *Palio di Mordano, Palio of Mordano

Sicily

*Palio di Butera, Palio of Butera *Palio di Piazza Armerina, Palio of Piazza Armerina, August 11 to 13. *Palio dell'Ascensione in Floridia *Palio di San Vincenzo, in Acate

Basilicata

*Palio di Sant'Antonio abate in Pignola, on January 17, a race with Horses, donkeys and mules

Abruzzo

*Palio della Giostra Cavalleresca in Sulmona Last Saturday and Sunday of July *Palio della Giostra Cavalleresca dei Borghi più Belli d'Italia – in Sulmona *Palio della Giostra Cavalleresca d'Europa – Sulmona

Puglia

*Palio del Viccio of Palo del Colle – held at carnival.

Palios with donkey races

Umbria

*Giochi de le Porte of Gualdo Tadino

Lombardy

*Corsa cogli Asini of Dairago *Palio degli Asini di Bereguardo, Palio degli Asini in Bereguardo *Palio del Cinghiale, in Cesano Boscone

Piedmont

*Palio degli Asini di Alba in Alba, Piedmont, Alba *Palio degli Asini di Cocconato in Cocconato *Palio degli Asini di Quarto d'Asti in Quarto d'Asti *Paglio ragliante di Calliano in Calliano, Piedmont, Calliano *Palio dei Borghi di Venaria, Palio dei Borghi in Venaria

Toscana

*Palio dei Ciuchi of Campagnatico (GR), Campagnatico, in September *Palio dei Micci of Pozzi, frazione di Seravezza *Palio dei Ciuchi of Carmignano (Italia), Carmignano, in September *Palio dei somari of Bagnolo, Santa Fiora, Bagnolo *Palio dei somari of Torrita di Siena *Palio dei somari (Montepulciano Stazione), Palio dei Somari of Montepulciano Stazione *Giostra dei sestrieri, Palio dei Ciuchi of Roccatederighi * Palio de' Ciui of Lugnano, Vicopisano, Lugnano *Palio dei somarelli of Vallerona

Campania

* "Il Palio di Somma Vesuviana", second Sunday in September * "Palio del casale", Palio Nazionale degli asini, Camposano * "Palio del ciuccio", Cuccaro Vetere.

Lazio

, in Gonfalone di Arpino. *Palio di Corchiano, Palio delle Contrade of Corchiano, First Sunday in August *

of Allumiere *Palio di San Ciro at Sora, Italy, Sora

Marche

*Palio del Somaro in Mercatello sul Metauro

Emilia-Romagna

*Palio di Ferrara * Palio di Parma, *Palio di somari, Palio dei somari of Grizzana Morandi

Friuli

* Palio dei Borghi di Fagagna, second Sunday in September.

Palios with boat races (''Palii remieri'')

Tuscany

*Palio dell'Argentario, in Porto Santo Stefano, August 15 *Palio di Calcinaia of Calcinaia *Palio di San Ranieri, in Arno and Pisa on June 17 *Palio Madonna del Lago of Massaciuccoli, since 1967.

Liguria

*Palio Marinaro di San Pietro, at Genoa, first Sunday of July *Palio del Golfo, at La Spezia, first Sunday of August *Palio dei Sestieri, in Ventimiglia, Italy, Ventimiglia, second Sunday in August *Regata dei Rioni di Noli, in Noli, Second Sunday in September

Apulia

*Palio di Taranto, Palio of Taranto

Trentino

*Palio dell'Oca (Trento), Palio dell'Oca, in Trento

Veneto

*Regata Storica, in VeniceOfficial website
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Calabria

*Palio di San Giorgio, in Reggio Calabria, on April 23

Lazio

*Palio del mare of Gaeta

Palios with weapons

Tuscany

*Palio della balestra in Lucca, on July 12, a crossbow contest *Palio di Pescia, Palio in Pescia, an archery contest *Disfida con l'Arco in Montopoli in Val d'Arno (Pi), an archery contest *Diotto, Palio del Diotto in Scarperia, on September 8 (one of the games is a knife-throwing)

Umbria

*Palio di San Rufino in Assisi, a crossbow competition *Palio dei Terzieri, in August, an archery contest

Lazio

*Palio di Orte, Palio of Orte, an archery contest

Friuli

*Palio di San Donato, in Cividale del Friuli, last Sunday in August, an archery contest *Palio di Cordovado, Palio of Cordovado, first Sunday of September, an archery contest with a medieval costume parade

Emilia-Romagna

*Palio di Santa Reparata, Palio di Santa Reparata e della Romagna Toscana, in Terra del Sole, a crossbow contest

Veneto

*Palio della Marciliana, in Chioggia, a crossbow contest.

References

External links

{{Commons category, Palios
Il Palio Di Siena Official SiteIl Palio Di Siena English SiteGiostra del SaracinoPalio of AstiPalio of SienaPalio of FerraraPalio dei Rioni, Castiglion FiorentinoPalio Madama MargaritaPalio of LegnanoPalio della balestra VolterraCertame della Contea di PopoliPalio of San RufinoPalio dei 10 ComuniOttava di S. Egidio – Palio of archery
Tourism in Italy Italian traditions Festivals in Italy Sports originating in Italy